STAFF CORRESPONDENT

A survivor of the July uprising yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that police opened fire “like rain” on protesters in Dhaka’s Jatrabari before allegedly shooting his friend at close range after threatening to stage a “crossfire”.

Testifying as the first prosecution witness in a case over the killing of Imam Hasan Bhuiyan Tayim, a 12th grader, on July 20, 2024, Md Rahat Hossain described how he narrowly escaped death while his friend was fatally shot.

Earlier, the tribunal framed charges against 11 former police officers in connection with the killing.

Rahat told the court that he and two friends -- Tayim and Shahriar -- had joined a protest near the Kajla foot overbridge during a brief relaxation of a nationwide curfew imposed amid the anti-discrimination student movement.

According to his testimony, hundreds of police advanced from both sides of the road, some in armoured vehicles and others on foot, firing live rounds at protesters.

“Bullets were falling like rain,” Rahat said, recalling how people around him screamed and collapsed while trying to flee.

Terrified and disoriented, the three friends ran for cover and took shelter in a roadside tea stall, but it lasted only moments.

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